Evidence continues to mount for the early habitation of the earth by H.
erectus or H. heidelbergensis (depending upon the taxonomist). New Scientist
reports that a hand ax has been found in sediments that date somewhere
between 550 and 700 thousand years ago. (David Keys, “The Old Country,” New
Scientist Dec 22/29, 2001, p. 13) THis makes the maker the earliest of the
Queen's subjects.

is simply that in order to handle the colder climates of the regions they
inhabited, required a higher technology than just nakee people and stone
axes. They had to have clothing to be in the Caucasus,and Georgia. They also
had to care and support each other which indicates human compassion.

And as usual, this illustrates that whatever the 'oldest' of anything in the
fossil record is today, it will not be the oldest tomorrow. As
archaeological knowledge improves we always find that we have underestimated
fossil man's abilities. Just 7 years ago, no one accepted fossil man in
Europe before 500,000 years ago.